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Freshwater Mussels, Snails, and Crayfish of the Upper Farmington River Watershed

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Freshwater Mussels, Snails, and Crayfish of the Upper Farmington River Watershed Freshwater Mussels, Snails, and Crayfish of the Upper Farmington River Watershed Biodrawversity LLC Freshwater Mussels, Snails, and Crayfish of the Upper Farmington River Watershed Report Prepared by: Ethan Nedeau and Paul Low Biodrawversity LLC 441 West Street Amherst, MA 01002 Report Prepared for: Farmington River Coordinating Committee 101 East River Road, PO Box 395 Pleasant Valley, Connecticut 06063 and Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program Route 135 Westborough, MA 01581 ABSTRACT Biodrawversity LLC surveyed freshwater mussels, snails, and crayfish in the West Branch Farmington River, Still River, Sandy Brook, and Clam River in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Fifty-six sites were surveyed on 12 days between May 30 and September 6, 2007. Surveyors recorded information on the distribution, abundance, demographics, shell condition, and habitat of freshwater mussels, as well as the distribution and habitat of snails and crayfish. Seventeen species were found, including six fresh- water mussels, eight snails, and three crayfish. Habitat was generally not ideal for snails and only two species—Amnicola limosa and Ferrissia rivularis—were widespread. Crayfish were present in many loca- tions; Cambarus robustus was the most common species. The West Branch and its coldwater tributaries support several of the finest eastern pearlshell populations in southern New England, a species of special concern in Connecticut whose populations rely on trout and salmon populations and excellent water quality. The West Branch also supports a regionally important population of the brook floater, a species that is endangered in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Three mussel species—brook floater, triangle floater, and creeper—appear to be imperiled or highly imperiled in the West Branch and Still River based on low numbers of animals, lack of reproduction, poor condition of animals, or limited habitat. Relevant threats to these species or their habitat are identified in this report. The report recommends long-term monitoring to (1) periodically assess the abundance, demographics, and condition of ani- mals at reference sites, and (2) to identify and address threats as they emerge. The report recommends other actions that will help protect and restore aquatic biodiversity in the upper Farmington River. 1 Freshwater Mussels, Snails, and Crayfish of the Upper Farmington River Watershed www.biodrawversity.com Sandy Brook at survey site SB-8 along Sandy Brook Road in Colebrook, CT. (September 2007) INTRODUCTION ment. In 2007, the FRCC engaged Biodrawversity LLC to conduct freshwater mussel, snail, and crayfish surveys The West Branch Farmington River (hereafter called the in the Wild and Scenic portion of the West Branch, lower West Branch) is perhaps the most valuable recreational Still River, and Sandy Brook. river and coldwater fishery in southern New England. In 2005 and 2006, freshwater mussel surveys were Fourteen miles of the West Branch in Connecticut, down- conducted in the lower Farmington River with fund- stream of the Goodwin Dam, is part of the National Wild ing from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature and Scenic River System. Each year, tens of thousands of Conservancy, and the Connecticut Department of Envi- kayakers, tubers, canoeists, anglers, and wildlife watchers ronmental Protection (CT-DEP) (Nedeau 2005, Nedeau enjoy its clean cold water and well-protected upland land- 2006a, Nedeau 2006b). These studies determined that the scape. The Massachusetts portion of the West Branch is Farmington River supports the highest diversity of mus- eligible for, but not included in, the National Wild and sels in southern New England and a globally significant Scenic River System. It is, however, vital to the health of population of the federally endangered dwarf wedgemus- the lower river. Major tributaries that affect the health of sel (Alasmidonta heterodon). Eleven of 12 mussel species these waters include the Still River, Sandy Brook, Mad native to southern New England occur in the Farmington River, and Clam River. River—diversity matched in New England only by the As part of the implementation of the Upper Farm- 410-mile Connecticut River itself. This intact mussel as- ington River Management Plan, which is coordinated by semblage is an urgent conservation priority and provided the Farmington River Coordinating Committee (FRCC), critical justification for the inclusion of the lower Farming- various studies have been conducted on instream flows, ton River in the National Wild and Scenic River System. bank and channel condition, invasive plants, water qual- Mussel studies in the lower Farmington River left ity, fisheries, and biodiversity. These studies help to define questions about how far upstream these populations oc- conservation targets and guide protection and manage- cur in the Farmington River and whether important mus- 2 Freshwater Mussels, Snails, and Crayfish of the Upper Farmington River Watershed www.biodrawversity.com sel assemblages occur in principal tributaries. The brook groups of animals in New England. Six of the 12 species floater, which is listed as Endangered in Massachusetts and native to Connecticut, and seven of 12 native to Mas- Connecticut, was known to occur in the Massachusetts sachusetts, are listed as endangered, threatened, or special portion of the West Branch. The Massachusetts Natural concern and therefore receive state or federal protection Heritage and Endangered Species Program (MNHESP) (Nedeau et al. 2000, Nedeau and Victoria 2003). There contributed funds to the FRCC project so that more in- is a critical need to discover populations of endangered tensive studies of the brook floater in Massachusetts could mussels in order to protect them. Endangered species can be conducted and to provide watershed-wide context for provide justification for protecting riparian corridors and these species (crossing political boundaries). This report instream habitat, assessing and removing stream barriers, combines data from the FRCC and MNHESP studies. restoring fisheries, and implementing the most protective Freshwater mussels are ecologically important animals Best Management Practices (BMPs) for projects that may that are sensitive to habitat alteration and water quality, degrade river conditions (Nedeau 2008). and are used to assess the health of waterbodies (Nedeau et An interesting aspect of the life history of freshwa- al. 2000, Nedeau 2008). They are one the most imperiled ter mussels is that larvae are obligate external parasites of Table 1. Nomenclature, habitat, range, and fish hosts of freshwater mussels known to occur in the Farmington River watershed. Distribution based on this survey and Nedeau (2005, 2006a, and 2006b). See Nedeau 2008 for additional information. Species General Habitat Farmington River Watershed Host Species Eastern Pearlshell Small streams and small rivers; mainly Sparse or absent in lower Farmington Atlantic salmon, brook trout, brown trout, Margaritifera margaritifera coldwater habitats; inhabits a variety of River (Farmington to Windsor); present rainbow trout substrates in riffles, runs, and pools in West Branch and in several coldwater tributaries Triangle Floater Small streams to large rivers; rarely in Present throughout the Farmington River Common shiner, blacknose dace, longnose Alasmidonta undulata lakes; inhabits a variety of substrates watershed and several tributaries dace, pumpkinseed sunfish, fallfish, slimy and flow conditions sculpin, white sucker, largemouth bass Brook Floater Small streams and small rivers; mainly Confined to Massachusetts portion of Longnose dace, blacknose dace, slimy Alasmidonta varicosa cold or coolwater habitats; inhabits the West Branch in Otis and Sandisfield; sculpin, golden shiner, pumpkinseed sand, gravel, and cobble in riffles and not known from any tributaries sunfish, yellow perch, margined madtom runs Dwarf Wedgemussel Small streams to large rivers; inhabits a Present in lower Farmington River from Tesselated darter, slimy sculpin, possibly Alasmidonta heterodon variety of substrates and flow conditions Avon to upper end of Rainbow Dam juvenile Atlantic salmon impoundment Creeper Small streams to large rivers; inhabits a Found sporadically in lower river from Creek chub, longnose dace, blacknose Strophitus undulatus variety of substrates and flow conditions Rainbow Dam impoundment to Farming- dace, white sucker, pumpkinseed sunfish, ton; rare in upper watershed largemouth bass, fallfish, golden shiner, common shiner, yellow perch, slimy sculpin Eastern Floater Small to large rivers and lakes; mainly Rare in Farmington River and West Generalist: Warmwater species (probably Pyganodon cataracta cool or warmwater habitats; prefers Branch, except for Massachusetts por- sunfish, bass, and perch) lentic or depositional habitats tion of West Branch; probably common in lakes and ponds Alewife Floater Small to large rivers and coastal lakes Found sporadically between Avon and American shad, alewife, blueback herring Anodonta implicata with anadromous (clupeid) fisheries; the Rainbow Dam impoundment; more inhabits a variety of substrates and flow common near mouth of Connecticut conditions River Eastern Elliptio Habitat generalist; abundant in most Present throughout the Farmington River Generalist Elliptio complanata permanent aquatic habitats watershed and several tributaries; rare in high-gradient coldwater streams Eastern Pondmussel Small to large rivers and lakes; primarily Present in lower Farmington River
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